Proof Alliance Partners with The Arc of North Carolina to Expand Programming to Reduce Prenatal Alcohol Exposure
In collaboration with Proof Alliance, FASDinNC is becoming Proof Alliance North Carolina (Proof Alliance NC). FASDinNC is a statewide program funded by the SAMHSA Substance Abuse Prevention & Treatment Block Grant (SAPTBG) and has been in operation since 2002. FASDinNC strives to prevent alcohol-exposed pregnancies by providing education, training, and resources to women of childbearing age and the professionals who serve them. FASDinNC is a project of The Arc of North Carolina.
This effort between Proof Alliance and The Arc of North Carolina is aimed at expanding programming to support planned, alcohol-free pregnancies. The collaboration will include prevention campaigns, a website featuring the latest evidence-based public health information, and a Train the Trainers program that will result in dozens of professionals across the state of North Carolina becoming FASD-informed and facilitating trainings in their own communities.
According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, prenatal alcohol exposure is a leading preventable cause of birth defects and neurodevelopmental disorders in the United States. This exposure can have long-term developmental, cognitive and behavioral impacts on those exposed. These effects are referred to as fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). According to the North Carolina State Center for Health Statistics, 16.5% of pregnancies in North Carolina are exposed to alcohol. This means an estimated 19,600 babies are born with alcohol exposure each year.
About Proof Alliance
Proof Alliance has been the hub of hope for families affected by FASD since 1998. Proof Alliance is the leading voice and resource on FASD, advocating for the FASD community, providing education and training so FASD is better understood and working to ensure that all people know that there is no safe level of alcohol during pregnancy. Proof Alliance provides programs including FASD screening and diagnosis, professional education and training, prevention campaigns, specialized services for pregnant women with substance use disorders, outreach, education and referral. For more information contact Proof Alliance at 651-917-2370 or visit www.proofalliance.org
About The Arc of North Carolina
The Arc of North Carolina is committed to securing for all people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) the opportunity to choose and realize their goals of where and how they learn, live, work and play. Our organization offers many services for people with I/DD including advocacy, housing, employment, provider services, community navigation, and guardianship. For more information contact The Arc of North Carolina at 800-662-8706 or visit https://www.arcnc.org/